Dayton Moore has pushed all his chips in and is riding on King/Jack suited, hoping it comes together, he gets some good luck, and he hits the nuts by the river card. There's potential, oh yes, there's potential. There's also risk.

At the midway point, Dayton is left counting on the river card. The flop and turn didn't help him, and he's looking at the Tigers holding a pair of Queens and the Indians holding a pair of 9s. His 2013 plan hasn't failed - yet - but the odds are not in his favor.

Burning questions updates below.

Burning Questions for 2013:

1) Will the improve rotation be improved enough? Does James Shields pitch like a fringe No. 1 away from Tampa Bay? Does Ervin Santana pitch to his highest upside in his walk year? Can Jeremy Guthrie build on his strong performance as a Royal in 2012? Can Wade Davis bring his new mentality- and velocity - back to the rotation?

Midseason check-in: Yes, the rotation is certainly improved enough. Shields has pitched like a fringe No. 1 and Santana is having his best season. Guthrie has horrible peripherals but has continued to perform well at his home park and eat innings on the road. Davis brought neither his kick-ass mentality or improved velocity back to the rotation and is in Luke Hochevar/Hiram Davies territory.

2) When will Luke Hochevar be shown the door?Midseason check-in: It appears, never, at this point. Hochevar has been solid in non-leverage situations, though pretty much every time he has been used with men on base in an inning, it has been a disaster.

3) Does Hosmer bounce back?Midseason check-in: It took some time, but Hosmer's performance from June 1 on is probably the most encouraging thing about the 2013 season so far.
4) Can Moustakas hit for a whole season like he did in the first half of 2012?Midseason check-in: Nope. Moustakas was god-awful, then great for about 3 weeks, then god-awful again. He has been better since he started working with Brett and Grafol but still has a long way to go.
5) Who regresses? Midseason check-in: Welp, Alicides Escobar is not a surprising name here (though Yost's stubborn insistence on hitting him second is ridiculous). Billy Butler is a surprise. He isn't having a terrible year - still contributing a lot to the offense - but he's not hitting for the average or power he has displayed over the past several years.
6) Who plays 2B?Midseason check-in: A whole bunch of people, and not that great. Gio is at least getting a shot, though he once again is not doing much with it.
7) Can Jeff Francoeur be at least replacement level, rather than epic horrible level?Midseason check-in: Hahahahahahahahahahaha
8) Will Dayton Moore survive to see 2014?Midseason check-in: Outlook uncertain. Probably still around, unless the team completely tanks in the second half and he does something foolish. My guess - he sacrifices Ned Yost this offseason and gets one more shot with a new manager in 2014.
9) Will Danny Duffy come back healthy? And if he does, is he the same, better or worse?Midseason check-in: Yes. Velocity looks the same, and it looks likely he is the same guy as before.
10) And the big one: Has KC added enough to run down the big-money Detroit Tigers?Midseason check-in: Doesn't look like it, does it?

I really like our core of Cain, Gordon, Moustakas, Escobar, Hosmer, Perez and Butler. There are far worse lineups than that...in fact, if a few of those guys take a marginal step or two, that might even be considered an elite lineup.

We'd have an elite lineup, with an elite bullpen, and a decent rotation. Give us a couple of bounces and I don't see why we can't compete for the division.

even with Frenchy and whoever plays 2nd batting 8th and 9th (though I'm sure Frenchy will hit 6th or 7th for some reason.

Escobar is great at 9th. Frenchy is probably best at 7th after Perez. This lets the 8th be 2B and 9th be Escobar or the CF is Escobar is better at the 2 spot. Either way Frenchy batting 7th prevents him from being too much of an intrical part of the offense. You don't rely too much on him to drive in runs but you also don't rely too much on him to start rallies.

I really like our core of Cain, Gordon, Moustakas, Escobar, Hosmer, Perez and Butler. There are far worse lineups than that...in fact, if a few of those guys take a marginal step or two, that might even be considered an elite lineup.

We'd have an elite lineup, with an elite bullpen, and a decent rotation. Give us a couple of bounces and I don't see why we can't compete for the division.

While I applaud your spirits, an "elite" offense scores around 800+ runs over the course of the year.

You honestly think that lineup will score 800 runs? ESPECIALLY with it being anchored by Frenchy\Getz?

I think they have the potential to improve to maybe 720 runs... but 800 runs I don't see in their near future... Now maybe if we had a young stud RF'r hitting 35 HR's in the middle of our lineup... But where would we ever find such a commodity?

I can't see Hosmer not hitting at least .280 this year. I think Moustakas takes at least a marginal step forward. Gordon and Butler we can expect the same.

I really, really like Cain. I think he has great potential both offensively and defensively. If we got say .300 15/80 and 20 SB's out of him? (which is reasonable) and a healthy season? Added with a star in Perez?

I think they have the potential to improve to maybe 720 runs... but 800 runs I don't see in their near future... Now maybe if we had a young stud RF'r hitting 35 HR's in the middle of our lineup... But where would we ever find such a commodity?

If you think Myers would've been hitting 35 HRs playing half his games at the K, I have a bridge and some beach front property to sell you.

Moose just needs to stretch his first half out to a full season and he will be really good. I think no more Seitzer is a win as well. I can't believe how much he screwed with guys' swings and approaches. That and hopefully the days of taking first pitch strikes right down the middle no matter the situation are over as well.

I can't see Hosmer not hitting at least .280 this year. I think Moustakas takes at least a marginal step forward. Gordon and Butler we can expect the same.

I really, really like Cain. I think he has great potential both offensively and defensively. If we got say .300 15/80 and 20 SB's out of him? (which is reasonable) and a healthy season? Added with a star in Perez?

I'm just saying...we could be borderline elite.

If Hosmer and Mous develop into consistent hitters at the ML level this season, we will improve to over 700 runs.

Expecting Cain to put up those numbers is complete and total homerism. The guy has all of 8 career HR's and 45 RBi's in 400+ AB's spread out over 3 seasons...

If he stays healthy, we're looking at about a .750 OPS guy that plays respectable defense.